New Braunfels City Council received an update on the city’s downtown paid parking program, Park NBTX, including usage data, revenue and possible changes to the program at a meeting Feb. 23.

By the numbers: Park NBTX has been in effect since July 7, as previously reported by Community Impact. The program requires drivers to register their parking sessions. The first hour is free, and subsequent hours are $2 per hour, capped at $10 per day.

Between July and December, the program generated net revenue of $154,369, according to the meeting presentation. Gross revenue totaled $316,039, including parking sessions and citation fees for those who did not register their session. Operational, enforcement, and credit and debit card expenses totaled $161,670.

What’s next: The newly appointed Downtown Parking Revenue Advisory Committee will begin collecting data on the impacts of implementing a resident parking pass and the expansion to two free hours of parking after registration. The committee is expected to meet March 23. 

A new direct primary care, or DPC, clinic is opening in New Braunfels this spring at 189 E. Austin St., Ste. 105.

The details: The practice, Simmons Family Medicine, is owned by Travis Simmons.

Simmons Family Practice will offer comprehensive primary care for all ages through the DPC model, which offers primary care services for a low, flat cost. Simmons said he previously worked with DirectMed and also plans on offering functional and integrative medicine, as well as focusing on women experiencing menopause.

Something to note: Simmons said they do not bill insurance.

"We are a great solution for a growing number of people who don’t have insurance," Simmons told Community Impact.

• 189 E. Austin St., Ste. 105, New Braunfels

The Hays County Commissioners Court did not take action on three agenda items related to emergency drought response, conservation and a development moratorium during a Feb. 24 meeting. The items would have addressed concerns surrounding water availability in the region and potential developments that use large amounts of water.

The overview: The commissioners’ agenda featured three water-related items aimed at addressing extreme drought conditions across the state. The conditions were outlined in a renewed drought disaster proclamation issued by Gov. Greg Abbott on Feb. 16.

A moratorium on the issuance of new permits to developments that would utilize an immense amount of water was considered by the court at the meeting. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra tabled the item following community testimony and court discussion.

Counties in the state do not have the legal authority to issue development moratoriums, according to a letter sent to Attorney General Ken Paxton by Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt.

Zooming in: Hays County and the surrounding region continue to face long-standing water challenges, including a severe multiyear drought.

With a few days left to vote early in the March primaries, more Texans have turned out to the polls this year than in recent primary elections.

The gist: The increase is particularly pronounced among Democratic primary voters, state data shows, with more than twice as many Democratic votes cast by Feb. 24 than in Texas’ last gubernatorial primary.

Zooming in: Statewide, nearly 1.3 million Texans, or about 7% of the state’s 18.7 million registered voters, cast early ballots through Feb. 24, the eighth day of the 11-day early voting period. This is up from about 6% turnout at the same point in 2024 and about 4% turnout in 2022.

In interviews with Community Impact, election analysts attributed Texas’ rising primary voter turnout in part to a slate of competitive, high-profile races on each party’s primary ballot.

At the polls: Early voting in Texas’ Republican and Democratic primaries runs through Feb. 27, and primary election day is March 3. During early voting, registered voters can visit any polling location within their county of residence.